Server-Sent Events (SSE) vs. WebSockets vs. Polling: Choosing the Right Real-Time Solution
Source : https://github.com/pottavijay/realtime-communication-app In today’s world of dynamic and interactive applications, real-time communication between the client and server is essential. Whether you're building a chat app, live dashboard, or stock ticker, how you deliver data matters — a lot. Three popular strategies dominate the landscape: Polling Server-Sent Events (SSE) WebSockets But how do you decide which one to use? Let’s explore each, compare them, and see where they fit best! 1. Polling What is Polling? Polling is the simplest method: the client sends HTTP requests at regular intervals asking, "Any updates?" Pros: Simple to implement Works everywhere (great browser support) No persistent connection needed Cons: High server load (lots of redundant requests) Latency between updates Inefficient for truly real-time apps Use When: Data updates are infrequent Real-time experience ...